NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Major lawsuit against broad new Massachusetts Censorship Law
Major lawsuit against broad new Massachusetts Censorship Law http://bit.ly/bvQfrS (ACLU Mass.) Given that this law has essentially no chance of being upheld, and given that the authors and governor presumably realize this, the entire exercise of writing, passing, and signing the legislation can only be described as insidious political pandering of the highest order. --Lauren-- NNSquad Moderator - - - BOSTON -- A coalition of organizations and local booksellers today filed suit to block a broad Massachusetts censorship law that bans constitutionally protected speech on the Internet for topics including contraception and pregnancy, sexual health, literature, and art. Signed into law in April by Governor Patrick and effective today, the law, Chapter 74 of the Acts of 2010, imposes severe restrictions on the distribution of constitutionally protected speech on the Internet. The law could make anyone who operates a website or communicates through a listserv criminally liable for nudity or sexually related material, if the material can be considered "harmful to minors" under the law's definition. In effect, it bans from the Internet anything that may be "harmful to minors," including material adults have a First Amendment right to view. Violators can be fined $10,000 or sentenced to up to five years in prison, or both.